ALEX & BEN ELIMINATED FROM UPN�S "THE PLAYER"

Alex From Houston Gets Cut in Sudden Death Elimination and Ben From Littleton, Colo. is Next To Be Given His Walking Papers

Alex, from Houston, and Ben, from Littleton, Colo., were the sixth and seventh participants eliminated from UPN�s new reality series THE PLAYER. In the show�s fourth episode, in order to win a date with Miami model Dawn, the diverse group of "self-described" players had to test their player skills in the wild of the Everglades through an obstacle course that culminated in a wrestling match with ferocious alligators. The winners got to spend a luxurious day at a spa with Dawn, but just as they were about to be whisked away by a helicopter, Dawn decided to leave one in the dust.

Alex established himself at the beginning as very slick and suave, his hair always coifed to perfection. He found it difficult to let loose and be casual. At first, Dawn felt he was a bit creepy and very "Miami Vice" in that he always wore suits. But he soon enticed her with his sensitive ways by serving her breakfast in bed and giving her a luxurious massage. Even though Alex was on the winning team of the obstacle course, Dawn had a decision to make. There wasn't enough room on the helicopter, so she had to leave one behind. Since she felt no connection to Alex, she let him go. Dawn later remarked, "I didn't see Alex really as a player. When we talk about players and posers, I really felt that he was just there for the ride and to kinda hang out with us to have fun, which was wonderful. But I'm now at the point where I have to actually look at their skills as a player and Alex really didn't have that."

Dawn was first intrigued with Ben's shy and low-key attitude towards her. She soon became wary of his motives after he and two other guys trashed her girlfriend's room. The final straw came at the campfire, when Dawn didn't show up. Instead, she was spending some private time with Chyno. Finding this annoying, Ben made a disrespectful comment about Dawn and her preoccupation with Chyno. Once Dawn learned what Ben had said, she confronted him immediately. Ben refused to apologize for what he thought was a joke. That attitude sealed his fate, and she sent him home later that night.

THE PLAYER follows a cultural cross-section of guys who find themselves living together in a palatial mansion in South Florida with Dawn and her two beautiful girlfriends. Throughout the hot spots of South Beach and Miami, these self-proclaimed "masters of the opposite sex" will attempt to win over Dawn, with the approval of her girlfriends, as they are thrust into a variety of scenarios with the possibility of sudden death eliminations. By using all of their best dating tactics and interpersonal skills, they must prove themselves worthy of being selected as Dawn's ultimate player and hopefully not hear her dismiss them with the fateful phrase, "Don't hate the player, hate the game."

THE PLAYER airs Wednesday (9:00-10:00 PM, ET/PT) on UPN.